Shazak Did You Know? Shmos
Six at a Time — In the very beginning of Shemos, we read that the Jewish nation grew in Egypt super speedily. Many Jewish mothers gave birth to six babies at once. What began as a small family of Yaakov’s descendants quickly became a nation of millions.
Modern Baby Math — Today, twins happen about once in every 250 births — but sextuplets, six in a shot? Only once in about 4.7 billion. The Jewish baby boom in Egypt was truly miraculous!
Baby Boomers Unite — After World War II, countries like the United States saw a baby boom of their own. Soldiers came home, got married, and millions of babies were born! Entire neighborhoods popped up almost overnight. Like in Egypt, new life rose from hardship.
From Paychecks to Chains — At first, Pharaoh paid the Jewish workers for helping build Egypt’s cities. But one day, the royal “good news” was announced — no more pay! From that moment, they were just plain slaves.
History Repeats Itself — Many cruel rulers, companies, and even governments have promised “volunteer opportunities” or “temporary sacrifices for the greater good” — only to turn them into permanent, unpaid work.
Sinking Cities — Pharaoh forced The Jews to build Pisom and Ramses, but the ground beneath them kept collapsing, swallowing their hard work. The goal was endless frustration — buildings that fell as fast as they rose.
Paraoh’s Mixed-Up Madness — To crush the Jewish people’s spirit, Pharaoh ordered a cruel “role reversal”. He forced men to do household chores like sewing and cooking, while the women were sent to haul heavy bricks up hills — just to make their hard work feel completely useless.
The Pyramid Myth — Surprise! The Jewish slaves didn’t build the pyramids. Those massive monuments were already ancient history long before Yaakov and his sons ever moved to Egypt!
Rock-Solid Facts — Some pyramid stones weigh up to 200 tons — that’s about 400,000 pounds each! That’s like 02 whales!
Ancient Engineering Genius — Historians think it took around 20 years and 100,000 workers to finish the Great Pyramid of Giza — all without forklifts, power tools, or screwdrivers.
Sky-High Wonder — The Great Pyramid reached an incredible 481 feet high — like a 45-story skyscraper. For thousands of years, it was the tallest building in the world.
A House Full of Light — When Moshe was born, the entire house filled with light. Yocheved and Amram immediately knew this was no ordinary child. Indeed, he would grow to become the leader who brought the Jewish nation out of Egyptian slavery and guided them toward receiving the Torah.
Light in the Darkest Hour — Paraoh had decreed that every Hebrew baby boy be thrown into the Nile — but right then, HaShem brought light and hope into the world. Just when things seem darkest, that’s when the light begins to shine.
